The Lightning is aggressively canvassed for its weight, with a quick, snappy motion best suited to day sailing, designed for cruising comfort rather than racing.
Hull Speed
The theoretical displacement-mode speed limit — determined by waterline length, not engine or sail power.
A displacement hull pushes a bow wave whose speed is limited by the waterline length.
With a waterline of 15.3′, the Lightning tops out around 5.2 knots in displacement mode — after that, the bow wave outruns the hull and resistance climbs steeply.
1.34 × √15.3′ LWL = 5.2 kts
Performance Ratios
Racing handicap, sail-carrying power, stability and comfort — and what each one actually tells you about a day on the water.
PHRF Rating
153s/nm
Typical cruiser — designed for comfort and ease, not podium finishes.
SA / Displacement
35.0
Performance-oriented — carries a lot of canvas for its weight.
Ballast / Displacement
18.6%
Light ballast — tends to be tender; reef earlier than the numbers suggest.
Displacement / Length
88
Ultralight — responsive and fast, but carries less stores.
Comfort Ratio
5.5
Quick, snappy motion — better for day sails and racing than long passages.
Capsize Screening
2.93
Above the 2.0 offshore threshold — best suited for coastal and protected waters.
SA/Disp (Calculated)
38.4
Computed from measured I/J/P/E rather than reported sail area.
Pounds/Inch Immersion
354lbs
Weight needed to sink the hull one inch — loading sensitivity.
Motion & Offshore Suitability
Two ratios that matter most when you're planning passages — how the boat feels in a seaway, and whether the hull geometry is suitable for open ocean.
Comfort Ratio
5.5
Quick, snappy motion — better for day sails and racing than long passages.
Under 20 — Snappy, racing motion
20–30 — Acceptable coastal
30–40 — Good offshore comfort
Over 40 — Very comfortable offshore
Capsize Screening Formula
2.93
Above the 2.0 offshore threshold — best suited for coastal and protected waters.
Under 2.0 — Acceptable for offshore
Over 2.0 — Coastal / protected waters
PHRF Fleet Position
Where the Lightning sits on the PHRF handicap spectrum — lower numbers mean faster boats.
Cruiser/Racer 90–150
Cruiser 150–210
Heavy Cruiser 210–300
Vx One
102s/nm
Lightning
153s/nm
Typical cruiser — designed for comfort and ease, not podium finishes.
Flying Scot
204s/nm
Rhodes 19
261s/nm
Estimated Speed by Wind
Rough boat speed estimates at different true wind speeds and points of sail — derived from hull speed, SA/D, and displacement, not measured polars.
| Point of Sail |
6 kts TWS |
10 kts TWS |
15 kts TWS |
20 kts TWS |
| Close-hauled40–50° |
2.5 |
3.1 |
3.5 |
3.6 |
| Close Reach60° |
3.0 |
3.8 |
4.2 |
4.4 |
| Beam Reach90° |
3.7 |
4.6 |
5.2 |
5.6 |
| Broad Reach120–135° |
3.4 |
4.3 |
4.8 |
5.2 |
| Run150–180° |
2.7 |
3.4 |
3.8 |
4.0 |
These are simplified estimates based on hull speed (5.2 kts),
SA/D (35.0), and empirical efficiency curves — not instrument-measured
polars. Real-world speed varies with sea state, bottom condition, sail trim, and current.
Speeds in gold approach hull speed;
bold gold means near or at hull speed.
Wind Range & Comfort Envelope
Estimated wind ranges for comfortable sailing on the Lightning — based on sail area, ballast, and displacement characteristics.
Ghost
Sweet Spot
Reef
Heavy
0–5 kts
5–14 kts
14–22 kts
22+ kts
Ghosting
0–5 kts
Light air, motor-sailing likely. Need patience and a light genoa.
Sweet Spot
5–14 kts
Comfortable under full sail. Best speed-to-comfort ratio.
Time to Reef
14–22 kts
Time to shorten sail. Reef the main, swap to a working jib.
Heavy Weather
22+ kts
Storm conditions. Storm jib or bare poles. Seek shelter if coastal.
How It Compares
Side-by-side with the boats most often cross-shopped against the Lightning.
|
Lightning |
Albin 57 |
Flying Scot |
Rhodes 19 |
Squib |
Vx One |
| Dimensions |
| LOA |
19.0 |
18.8 |
19.0 |
19.2 |
19.0 |
19.0 |
| LWL |
15.3 |
16.4 |
18.5 |
17.8 |
17.0 |
18.8 |
| Beam |
6.5 |
7.9 |
6.8 |
7.0 |
6.2 |
7.2 |
| Displacement |
700 |
1 |
850 |
1 |
1 |
450 |
| Ballast |
130 |
562 |
— |
415 |
827 |
167 |
| Sail Area |
172 |
167 |
191 |
175 |
172 |
— |
| Performance |
| PHRF |
153 |
— |
204 |
261 |
— |
102 |
| SA/Disp |
35.0 |
18.3 |
34.1 |
22.9 |
21.1 |
— |
| Bal/Disp |
18.6 |
31.9 |
— |
— |
— |
37.2 |
| Comfort |
5.5 |
10.1 |
5.5 |
8.6 |
11.7 |
— |
| Capsize |
2.93 |
2.62 |
2.85 |
2.53 |
2.16 |
— |
| Hull Speed |
5.2 |
5.4 |
5.8 |
5.7 |
5.5 |
— |